Schets van paddestoelen 1878 - 1943

Willem van Konijnenburg made this sketch of mushrooms on paper with pencil at an unknown date. It’s like a thought bubble, a fleeting impression captured with these quick, scribbly lines. It reminds me that artmaking is a process, not just a product. Look at how the pencil marks create texture – scratchy, light, and airy. The blue is soft and inviting. You can almost feel the roughness of the paper. See that one dark, looping line near the top? It's a simple gesture, but it pulls the whole composition together, connecting the mushrooms to the swirling energy above. It's as if the artist is saying, "Here's a little bit of magic, a glimpse into how I see the world." Konijnenburg's approach reminds me a little of Odilon Redon, who also explored dreamy, ethereal subjects with a similar kind of delicate touch. For both artists, it's not about capturing reality perfectly, but about embracing the beauty of suggestion and the power of the imagination.